Tab stacking apparatus



United States Patent [72] inventor James E. Giegerich Norristown, Pa. [21 Appl. No. 736,995 [22] Filed June 14,1968 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [73] Assignee Certain-Teed Products Corporation Ardmore, Pa. in corporation of Maryland [54] TAB STACKING APPARATUS 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 214/6, 83/86 [5 l] Int. Cl. 865g 57/ i0 [50] Field of Search 2l4/6M, 6H, 6P, 6P, 6D, 6K

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192.56! 7/l9l6 Reiser 2l4/6(M)X 1,873,792 8/1932 Sheeler.... 2l4/6(M)UX 1,951,389 3/l934 Anthony 2l4/6(M)UX 2,956,381 10/1960 Chauvin et al 2 i 4/6(H)X Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner- Robert J. Spar Attorney-Synnestvedt & Lechner ABSTRACT: Shingle-manufacturing equipment includes hopper from which shingles are stripped one at a time and'fed to cutting assembly provided for subdividing shingles into a plurality of strips of various widths. Cutting assembly includes cutters, e.g. rotary disc type, ganged on shaft for simultaneous cutting of shingle along plurality of lines extending transversely of the long axis of the shingle. Transfer apparatus deposits subdivided shingles onto collecting table with one side edge of each strip being held in a raised condition with respect to theadjacent side edge of the following strip on the table A traveling stacker moves lengthwise of the table successively engaging the lower edge of each strip and moving that strip over the following strip.

PATENTED nEm 5197B 3; 547; 280

SHEET 2 0F 5 L/HMESE G/EGEP/CY/ BY PATENTEU mm 5 I970 SHEET 3 [IF 5 m M? WE W6 5 W W PATENTED UEBI 5 I976 sum u or 1/ AT'I'OR EY PATENTEUJDECI 519m SHEET 5 [IF 5 TAB STACKING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for forming and stacking rectangular sheetlike articles. Although not limited thereto, the invention is more particularly directed to the provision of apparatus for subdividing large rectangular shingle sheets into a number of smaller rectangular strips,.hereinafter usually called tabs and to the stacking of such tabs.

The invention is especially adapted for use in conjunction with equipment of the general kind described in copending application Ser. No. 715,774, filed March 25, I968, and owned by the assignee of this application. Equipment is described in that application for the manufacture of composite shingles made up of conventional rectangular shingle sheets on which are superimposed strips or tabs, preferably of various widths, at intervals along the top surface of each shingle sheet. Composite shingles of the kind involved are disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. D -209,7l9, issued Dec. 26, 1967. With the foregoing general background in mind, the present invention is well adapted for the manufacture of the tabs from the large shingles of the same kind used for the base shingle of the composite and for efficiently and simply collecting the tabs so formed for ultimate use in the assembly of the composite shingles.

The present invention simplifies a somewhat troublesome and time-consuming step in. the manufacture of such composite shingles inasmuch as the cutting of the large sheet shingles into strips of different widths and the stacking of the tabs so formed into easily handleable bundles isa difficult task for the average workman to cope with. The tabs, being made up from asphalt-impregnated feltlike paper, covered with a granular slate or similar coarse material, are difficult to cut and, because they are somewhat rough and of various widths, are hard to stack manuallyor by known stacking equipment.

Accordingly, in its broader aspects, a central object of the invention is the provision of stacking apparatus for fon'ning a stack of rectangular articles arranged in side-by-side relationship.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for manufacturing narrow rectangular strips from larger rectangular sheet shingles.

Another important object, closely related to both of the foregoing, is the provision of apparatus for subdividing sheet shingles into a group of tabs or strips arranged in side-by-side relationship and for thereafter stacking the resulting tabs or strips.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the kind described which incorporates features providing for safety, dependability and economy of operation.

The foregoing and various other objects and advantages inherent in the operation of equipment formed in accordance with the invention are achieved by acollecting table for supporting the tabs in side-by-side relationship, the table being provided with support means for holding one edge of each tab in a raised position with respect to the adjacent edge of the next adjacent tab. Pusher means are mounted for movement lengthwise of the table into successive engagement with the other edge of each of said tabs. The pusher means moves each engaged tab over the following tab until all are stacked at a station from which they are conveyed away for subsequent use. According to one important aspect of the invention, cutting means comprising rotary knife type cutter elements ganged on a rotating shaft and spaced therealong at irregular intervals, subdivide larger sheets into a plurality of tabs. Means are preferably provided intermediate the rotary cutters and the collecting table for transferring the'tabs so fonned onto the table in side-by-side relationship.- u i u The various objects and advantages of the invention will become fully apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying diawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing apparatus formed in ac- I FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, the view being on a slightly enlarged scale as com pared with FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, the section being taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2, the view being a sectional view on line555 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the drive train used in the illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of a base shingle of the kind from which tabs of the kind referred to herein are formed; and

FIG. 8 shows the shingle following subdivision into tabs.

Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 through 3. As therein shown, the apparatus generally comprises a shingle dispensing mechanism identified by the reference character SD. A shingle-slitting or cutting mechanism identified by the reference character SC follows the dispensing mechanism and receives shingles therefrom. The shingles are subdivided into tabs of different widths by the slitting mechanism and the subdivided shingles are thereupon fed to tab stacking mechanism generally identified by the reference character TC.

The shingle dispensing mechanism SD preferably comprises a hopper having sidewalls 10, a rear wall ll and a floor 12 on which a supply of sheet shingles is adapted to rest. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, a clearance space through which shingles are adapted to be fed, is provided between the bottom of the rear wall 11 and the hopper fioor. The amount of clearance is governed by adjustable gauging bars, not shown, and is made large enough to allow for the stripping of just one shingle at a time from the bottom of the stack, the next shingle in the stack being retained in the hopper by the lower edge of the gauging bars which are mounted on rear wall 11.

Stripping of shingles from the hopper is accomplished by means of transversely extending pusher bar 13. As shown best in FIG. 3, pusher bar 13 is mounted on spacers 14 which fit within slots 15 formed in the floor 12. Each spacer is in turn secured to transversely extending pusher bar support channel 16.

The pusher bar is reciprocated back and forth through a path whose limits are defined by the stroke of double acting air cylinders 17 mounted on brackets 17:: secured to the floor on each side of the hopper. Each air cylinder 17 is fitted with a piston and a piston rod 18, the end of which is bolted to a connecting bracket 19, the latter being secured in turn to linear bearing members 20 which are journaled on bearing rods 21, one of which is shown in FIG. 3. The pusher bar support channel 16 is secured to the bearing members 20 and thus moves therewith on the rods 21. I

It will be evident that pressurization of the cylinders 17 by means of suitable control mechanism effects movement of the pusher bar first to the right as viewed in FIG. 1. During this movement, it engages the bottom shingle in the stack, forcing the shingle out through the clearance space into the nip formed between a pair of transfer rollers-22 and 23.

Roller 23 is driven by means described hereinafter and roller 22 is urged downwardly by means of compression spring 24 so that the shingle is gripped between the two rollers, pulled from the stack and moved further to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, to the shingle cutting or subdividing assembly SC. Preferably, the rollers are coated with a relatively soft material in order to minimize slippage and damageto the same during 1 the withdrawal of each shingle.

The shingle-cutting assembly SC is mounted on a stand 25 and comprises a first shaft 26 on which disc type rotative cutting elements or knives 27 are mounted. Shaft 26 is journaled in a pair of vertically movable takeup bearings 28, movement of which is effected by means of adjusting screws 29, and upon movement thereof in the appropriate direction, the shaft 26 and hence the knives 27 can be raised or lowered and thereby set in the desired position. Shaft 26 is driven by means described hereinafter.

As mentioned above, the decorative effects achieved when a roof is shingled with shingles on which tabs are applied are -"'empha'sized when tabs of different widths are applied. In order g-E-to cut the shingles to form such tabs, it is preferred that the Fknives 27 are mounted on the shaft 26 at irregular intervals, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, by means of clamping sleeves and carries grooved cutting members 36. The cutting members 36 are rotatively drivenby means described hereinafter and each 'isfprov'ided with a grooved portion 37, into which the knives extend with their cutting edges adjacent a vertical side wall Zthereof. As each shingle is fed into the nip between the rotating knives and the rotating cutting members 36, the knives and ,the cutting members effect subdivision thereof along lines ex- ;tending'transversely to the long axis of the shingle. During the butting operation, the portions of the shingle immediately adjacerit the lines of separation are free to yield slightly into the grooves, thus substantially eliminating any tearing of shingle fr iiaterial.

During the cutting operation, the rotary movement of kriives and cutting members advances'the shingle to the right viewed in FlGS. 2 and 3 between top and bottom guide plates 38 and 39. The plate 38 is secured to'a transversely extending angle-40 which is in turn connected to the stand 25 on .which the cutter is supported. An angle 41, also secured to the cutter stand, supports the plate 39; A driven roller 42, journaled in bearings 43', is mounted in :the path of the tabs just beyond the tab supports 38 and 39. A

,E-toller 44 is mounted immediately above the roller 42, the roller 44 being joumaled in a pair of arms 45 which are pivotally' mounted'on pins 46, secured to the cutter stand. Jprings 47 are secured to the arms and to spring anchors 48.

:and urge the rollers 44 downwardly towards engagement with vt-he roller 42. The two rollers form a tab transfer means which pick up the tabs as they leave the cutters and transfers them :Oi'ltO a collecting surface on table TC.

I -Rotatilon of the cutter elements as well, as the transfer rollers 22, 23and transfer rollers 42, 44 is effected by an electric :motor 50 which is provided with a reduction gearing housed in mibox 51'. The gear-box 51 has an output shaft 52, on which a toothed sprocket wheel 53 is secured, as'is shown in FIG. 3. A

*drive chaih 54 meshes with the toothed sprocket wheel and with a sprocket wheel 55 keyed to a shaft 56 shown in FIGS. 3 "and 6. A second sprocket wheel 57 is also mounted on the shaft 56. A' roller chain 58 of conventional construction "meshes with the teeth of sprocket wheel 57 and with the teeth "of a toothed sprocket wheel 59, secured to shaft 60. The shaft 60 carries the transfer rollers 23, thus effecting continuous "rotation thereof upon operation of motor 50.

In order to drive the shaft 26 and hence the cutter elements -27, a gear 62 is also keyed to the shaft 56 and meshes with a gear 63 mounted on a stub shaft 64. Shaft 64 also carries a "toothed sprocket wheel 65 which is secured thereto, the teeth "of sprocket wheel 65 meshing with roller-type chain 66, which also meshes with the teeth of sprocket wheel 67 secured to if ed cutter member 36 is driven in like mannerby a the surface of tab collecting table 75, with all tabs being posiitioned in side-by side relationship. The collectingtable exwheel 68 which is in turn driven by a drive chain 69 tends transversely of the cutting assembly and is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 76 and 77 whose purpose will be described subsequently.

According to the invention, means 78 are provided for elevating one edge of each tab with respect to the adjacent edge of the following tab on the surface of the collecting table. Preferably, this means comprises tilting or elevating bars 79 which fit between the slots 76 and.77 and preferably also includes shorter barlike pieces 79a and 7% arranged on the outboard sides of the slots.

Chains 82 which mesh with sprocket wheels 83 mounted on shafts 84 arelocated immediately beneath theslots 76 and 77. A transfer or tab pusher lug 85 is secured to each of the chains 82. Chains .82 and hence the transfer lugs 85 are driven by means comprising a pneumatically operable actuator 86 of conventional construction. Actuator 86 effects movement of the transfer lugs from the position shown in FIG. 4 lengthwise of the table to a position adjacent the right hand edge and thereafter effects withdrawal of the transfer lugs to the full line position.

When the tabs comprising a subdivided shingle are deposited on the surface of the table, one'edge of each tab is thus held in a raised position with respect to the next adjacent tab by means of the bars 80. Immediately following the depositing of the tabs on the table, the transfer lugs are driven lengthwise of the table (toward the right as viewed in FIG. 4) so that the lowermost edges of the tabs are successively engaged and the raised edges of such tabs are pushed over the next adjacent tab. As the lowered edge of successive tabs are engaged, such tabs and all tabs previously stacked are pushed over the following tab until all tabs are stacked at one end of the collecting surface.

Thestack is moved until it reaches an upstanding, wall 87 located well out of the path of movement of subsequently subdivided shingles being fed from the cutter assembly. The

transfer lugs are thereafter immediately retracted by means of the rotary actuator 86 and the next shingle to be subdivided by means of the cutter is now deposited on the collecting table with one edge of each tab held in raised position by means of the bars 79, 79a and 79b.

Preferably, the tabs are deposited at one side of the collecting surface immediately adjacent a first tab trough side wall 87, best/shown in H68. 2 and 4. As is shown in FIG. 2, the stacks of tabs are thereafter moved off the table through a trough consisting of the upstanding wall 87 and -a second sidewall 88 laterally spaced therefrom. Movement of the tabs through the trough is effected by a pusher bar 90 which is driven by means comprising an air cylinder 91 fitted with a piston rod 92. Air lines 93 and 94 are controllably pressurized to deliver air to one or the other side of a piston within. the

cylinderwhich effects movement of the piston rod 92 and The foregoing apparatus has been found to be extremely ef-' fective for the subdividing of shingles into narrow tabs and for the stacking and collecting of tabs for subsequent use-in the manufacture of composite shingles. The stacking arrangement has been proven to be particularly effective in practice, effecting considerably savings in labor costs. The invention is simple and reliable and eliminates the need for the manual feeding of shingles into the path of the rotary cutters, thereby eliminating a considerably safety hazard.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for collecting narrow rectangular tabs formed by dividing rectangular shingles comprised of an asphalt impregnated paper coated on one side with a granular slatematerial along a plurality of lines extending transversely of the long axis thereof comprising: a table with a substantially flat tab support surface thereon, said tab support surface carrying a plurality of tab elevating elements, said elements comprising a plurality of spaced apart bars mounted on said support surface, a pair of feed rollers extending substantially lengthwise of said table and being engageable with said tabs to thereby effect advance of the tabs lengthwise of the tab elevating elements onto said support surface with one edge of each tab being held by a tab elevating element in a raised condition relative to the adjacent edge of the next adjacent tab and with the lowered edge resting on said tab support surface, tab pusher means movable in a path extending lengthwise of said support surface and engageable in succession with the lowered edge of each of the tabs, thereby stacking the tabs by moving the engaged tabs onto the unengaged tabs, and a pusher plate positioned at the end of the path of travel of said pusher means and mounted for reciprocal movement transversely of said path to effect transfer of each stack of tabs as a unit off of said collecting surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said strip support members comprises a plurality of narrow bars mounted on said support surface and extending transversely of path of movement of said pusher means, said strip feed means being adapted to deposit said strips with one edge of each strip being located on one of said bars and the opposite edge thereof resting on said collecting surface. 

